The Good Shepherd by Matt Byars
- Christopher McLaurin
- May 5, 2020
- 2 min read

There is a program here called Canine Partners for Life in which inmates are taught to train dogs to be support animals for people who need them. It often brings a smile to my face seeing them train and play especially when they greet me. One day I noticed a few things about the training program though. First, their trainers take care of them. They feed and clean them and pick up after their messes. The dogs seem happy to please their trainers and eager to "work." As they are learning to walk nicely or turn on a light switch they are rewarded with food when they do it correctly. It seems to work well. A handful of Reese's would train me too. They are also taught to listen only to the voice of their trainers. I watched a puppy in training once. The trainer told her to stay and then he walked away. Meanwhile another person was told to call the puppy to see if she would move. He even tempted her with something she loves: a ball. She didn't move and she was rewarded. Recognizing and obeying the voice of her trainer was for her own good. It keeps her safe and when training is complete she can be placed in her forever home. See where we're going with this? John 10 tells us about our Good Shepherd whose sheep recognize His voice. If we, the sheep, don't learn to recognize and obey Him only, we can be lead astray into harm's way. Our Shepherd takes care of our every need as He trains us in righteousness. The enemy knows what we like and will tempt us with it. Just like the puppy, we are rewarded for obedience. So my hope is that I am as eager to please and to stay focused on my Shepherd as these puppies are on their trainers so that I will be prepared for my forever home with Him. God bless you and yours, Matt
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